MIDDLETOWN — Police arrested a New Haven man they say crashed through a construction zone early Monday morning and led an officer on a high-speed chase on Randolph Road. Officers were notified just after midnight by a sergeant working at the site that a car had barreled through the site at a high speed, running over traffic cones and nearly hitting construction equipment, according to a police arraignment report. A contractor hired by the state Department of Transportation was replacing a bridge on Route 17 near the Durham town line over the weekend, and a portion of Route 17 was closed from Friday evening until Monday afternoon.

Water's Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation, New England Home Care, and Luther Ridge of Middletown have partnered to sponsor a community mitten drive to help keep those in need a little warmer this winter. New and gently used mittens and gloves can be donated through Dec. 20 at either New England Home Care located at 136 Berlin Road, Cromwell, or at Water's Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation at 111 Church St. in Middletown. Donations will be given to local charities for distribution.

MIDDLETOWN — A busy portion of Route 17 near the Durham town line will be closed throughout the weekend for a state bridge replacement project. The state Department of Transportation said a short bridge between Randolph Road and the Wesleyan Hills development will be replaced with a "rapid construction technique" that will compress the construction into 68 hours. The road will be closed at 7 p.m. on Friday and is expected to be reopened at 3 p.m. on Monday. Detours will be set up directing traffic onto Long Hill Road, Randolph Road and Wesleyan Hills Road, the DOT said.

The roof of an abandoned warehouse on North Main Street has collapsed. Officials searched the building, at the intersection of North Main and Stack streets, to see if anyone was inside, but they found no one. Check back for updates. We tell you what's happening, when it happens, for FREE: Sign-up for Breaking News Mobile Subscribe to our Breaking News E-mails Try the News@3 Newsletter

A man in his 40s was found dead Monday evening in the basement window of his home on Prospect Street, police said. Police say foul play is not suspected at this time. The body at 171 Prospect St. was reported to police at 4:15 p.m. Officers said the man had no vital signs when they found him. His body was "partially draped out of the basement window," police said. A resident at the home identified the man as another resident. Middletown police and the office of the state medical examiner are investigating.

MIDDLETOWN — A pedestrian was hospitalized Saturday after being struck by a car on Washington Street, police said. The pedestrian, whose identity was not available, ran into the street and was hit by a passing car, according to police. The victim was taken to the hospital and was in stable condition, police said. — Matthew Kauffman

Police in Middletown are investigating an early morning assault today in the city's Westlake area. A male victim with unspecified serious injuries was taken to Hartford Hospital, police said. No arrests have been made. The victim appears to have known his attackers, and police said it was not a random act of violence. The police department's major investigations unit is purusing the case and can be reached at 860-344-3240.

The Middletown-based Connecticut Gilbert & Sullivan Society celebrates its 30th year with three performances of "The Mikado" on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.. The performances will take place at the new Middletown High School Performing Arts Center, 200 LaRosa Lane, off Route 3. Tickets are $25 for seniors/adults, $15 for students, with a surcharge of $5 per ticket and a discount of 10 percent for groups of 10 or more. For tickets, go to http://www.

A seasonal flu clinic will be held Nov. 16 from 3 to 8 p.m. in the city hall council chamber. The flu shots are free and will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Residency is not required. Anyone over age 3 and in good health is encouraged to receive the vaccine. Supplies are limited. The clinic is sponsored by Mass Dispensing Area 36, covering the towns of Cromwell, Durham, Middlefield, and the City of Middletown. More information: 860-344-3595. —Melissa Pionzio

MIDDLETOWN — The city has finalized a $1.1 million purchase of street lights from Connecticut Light & Power that is projected to save about $26,000 each month on electric bills. Voters approved the purchase at a 2013 referendum, and the city began negotiating the deal late last year. With the purchase, the ciity owns more than 5,100 street lights and 1,000 utility poles, and has hired a contractor to maintain the equipment rather than paying for maintenance as part of a monthly bill to CL&P.

MIDDLETOWN — The city's pension review board on Wednesday began hearing disability retirement cases for three former officers who were terminated earlier this year. Francesca Quaranta, Christopher Lavoie and Gino Pulvirenti all were told to seek impartial medical examinations to help the board determine if they are "totally and permanently disabled" from working as police officers due to on-duty injuries. Much of the discussion in Wednesday's meeting focused on whether or not the former officers can apply for pensions if they are no longer city employees.

HARTFORD — A Cromwell man was arraigned on threatening and harassment charges Tuesday for allegedly making threats against a Hartford Superior Court judge. State police took Edward Taupier, 49, into custody Friday while executing a search warrant at his Douglas Drive home. The judge was not named. Taupier originally posted $35,000 bond, but at his arraignment Tuesday, a judge raised his bail by $40,000 and he was taken back into custody. State police received a report on Thursday that Taupier sent a threatening email in which he allegedly made threats against the judge, the judge's family and "referenced the use of firearms.

MIDDLETOWN — The common council is considering a change in the way it adopts new street names to put more emphasis on names with local and historical significance. Discussion grew out of a seemingly trivial item on the council's August meeting agenda when it was set to approve Carlie Court as a new city street after its completion. The name was approved, but council members said they support taking a look at the regulations the city has for naming streets. "We're approving the request of a developer when we don't really attach any significance to this name, and if we don't know it now I think it would be even more obscure 10 years into the future," Councilman David Bauer said at the Aug. 4 council meeting.

MIDDLETOWN — The common council's finance and government committee rejected a request from the board of education to release a $200,000 year-end surplus on Wednesday night. School administrators wanted to use the money initially for a software purchase, but in response to concerns from parents about class sizes, the board said it wanted to use the money to hire more elementary school teachers. Several parents of students at Moody Elementary School and Wesley Elementary School attended the council subcommittee meeting Wednesday night to ask the council members to reallocate the school budget surplus to the district.

MIDDLETOWN — Students and teachers returned to classes Thursday morning to begin the 2014-15 school year. Superintendent Patricia Charles said besides some bus delays for the elementary students, the start to the year was smooth. She said wait times will get shorter as students and parents become more comfortable with the bus schedule. "I saw a lot of light-up sneakers, a lot of sparkles out there this morning," Charles said. "The kids are just adorable and so excited to be back in school.

A household hazardous waste collection day will be offered by Midstate Regional Planning Agency on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Moody School, 300 Country Club Road. The event is for residents of Cromwell, Durham, East Hampton, Middlefield, Middletown and Portland. For information on acceptable and non-acceptable items, go to http://www.themdc.com or call the hazardous waste coordinator at 860-347-7214 or MDC Hazwaste at 860-278-3809. —Melissa Pionzio

By SHAWN R. BEALS, sbeals@courant.com and The Hartford Courant, March 22, 2011

The Mattabassett District board of directors has agreed to allow the city to become a voting member of the Cromwell waste treatment facility, a major step toward eliminating the city's aging treatment plant on River Road. If all three member towns and the city approve, Middletown would join New Britain, Berlin and Cromwell with full voting rights in the plant's operations. The city would have three members on the district's board of directors. The city would pay the district $13 million in two $6.5 million installments for what Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano said is necessary "to buy our share of the value that's there.

MIDDLETOWN — Two recent acts of vandalism at Veterans Memorial Park have officials worried about the new Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial currently under construction. Sue Martucci, president of the memorial committee, said windows in two pieces of equipment have been broken at night in the last month. The memorial will include 65 trees and plaques in honor of Connecticut soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. To make sure the memorial pieces are not also damaged, the city will install lighting and cameras to deter vandals.

On Sept. 23, Feed the People Charity will have their 7th Annual Golf Tournament at Quarry Ridge Golf Course in Portland. All proceeds to benefit St. Vincent DePaul of Middletown, South Park Inn in Hartford and the Rocky Hill Food Bank. Registration for the tournament starts at 9:30 a.m. For more information, contact Robert Pisani at 203-631-0954. Feel free to visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Feed-the-People-Charity/.